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Hummingbirds, with their unique character and zippy flight patterns, are popular with casual backyard gardeners and serious bird-watchers alike. As a result, avian enthusiasts set up numerous nectar feeders each year, often timing these efforts with migration patterns. However, there is Ways to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard Without a Feeder. One of the most successful ways to do this is to grow a selection of plants and flowers that have been proven to draw in hummers. If you don’t have room for a full Hummingbird Garden – or you just want to accent other areas of your yard with bird-attracting blooms – you can grow many of these flowering plants successfully in containers.

To be sure, there is no shortage Flowers that attract hummingbirds. Some of them grow well in containers, while others do not. Choosing plants grown in pots and containers will allow you to move them into your patio and outdoor living space. The selection of hummingbird-attracting plants that bloom in containers is so wide that you’ll have plenty of choices regarding plant size and shape, as well as bloom color and timing.

While available space and aesthetics will certainly play a role in your decision-making, choosing plants native to your region is also important. Even though they are growing in a container, as opposed to a ground garden, native plants will more adequately meet hummingbird nectar needs. Additionally, you don’t need to pass the feeder as you grow these plants. In fact, plants are great complements to feeders and create a hummingbird-friendly zone in your yard.

Hummingbirds are attracted to the Agapanthus or African lily (Agapanthus africanus) because of its color, flower shape, and abundant nectar. As an in-ground plant, Agapanthus is best suited to USDA hardiness zones 7 through 10. However, growing them in containers allows them to grow in a wider range, as they can be moved indoors in cooler weather. It also allows them to be moved to areas of the yard that get about six hours of sunlight, but some afternoon shade, which they prefer. They also prefer well-drained soil and thrive better if they are rooted.

Bee balm (Monarda didima) is one of them Plants that help pollinators do their jobAttracts both hummingbirds and butterflies. Bee balm grows well in zones 4 through 9 and usually blooms from July to August. Those blooms — which are tube-shaped and come in red, pink and purple — are a favorite of hummingbirds. Bee balm is native to forested areas of the eastern US and prefers moist soil. It also requires a moderate amount of care and, because of its taste for moist soil, powdery mildew can be a problem. Therefore, be sure to place your container in an area with adequate air flow. Because it spreads aggressively, container growing is ideal for limiting its range.

With its clusters of bright red, tube-shaped blooms, the cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is irresistible to hummingbirds. The main flower is grown in zones 3 to 9 and, depending on the region, blooms from July to September or even as late as October. This makes it an ideal fuel source for hummingbirds during their fall migration. The main flower prefers moist soil, so while it should be well-draining, it needs to stay moist. It’s also a good idea to use a slightly larger container to allow room for its clumping tendencies.

Coral bells (Heuchera sanguinea) are attractive to hummingbirds for their colorful blooms that produce abundant nectar. Coral bells are perennials that form clumps in nature, and their size makes them perfect for containers. They are native to the western United States and are hardy in zones 3 through 8. They begin to bloom in late spring and will continue to do so into early or mid-summer. They do best in rich, well-drained soil that is kept moderately moist and can be kept in full sun or partial shade areas.

Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is among the best Flowers to attract hummingbirds. This is due to their tube-shaped, red and orange, nectar-producing flowers, as well as their bloom time. Typically, this plant, which grows well in zones 3 to 8, begins to show its blooms in early February. It will continue to bloom well into the summer. This makes it an ideal and much needed source of nectar for hummers early in the year. Given that it only reaches a height of 1 or 2 feet, it is also easily grown in containers.

In many ways, firecracker plant (Russellia equisatiformis) is the quintessential hummingbird plant. It has beautiful blooms and bright, tube-shaped flowers that are filled with nectar. They also have a long bloom period, usually lasting from spring to the first frost. This means they can provide nectar to hummingbirds during both spring and fall migration, as well as throughout the summer. Although it has a more limited hardiness range—zones 9 to 11—when grown in soil containers or hanging, it can be moved indoors during the winter and thus, grown in a wider range.

Another hummingbird favorite that grows well in containers is flowering tobacco (Nicotiana spp.). There are several varieties of Nicotiana, with fragrant flowers ranging from white to red and purple. Different variations range in height from 3 to 6 feet. All types of nicotiana, which are best suited to zones 10 to 11, can be grown in containers, although larger versions require an adequately sized pot. Flowering tobacco does best in full sun, so take that into consideration when choosing a location for your containers, especially large containers that can’t be easily moved. Keep in mind that all parts of the flowering tobacco plant are poisonous, so use caution if you have children or pets.

Hosta is another plant that comes in many varieties, each of which will attract hummingbirds to your yard. They are grown in zones 3 to 9 and are classified based on size from dwarf to giant. However, even giants only reach a few feet tall. As a result, all hosta varieties are well suited to containers. Given that they do well in shade, they are a great option for parts of your backyard space that don’t get enough sun for other hummingbird-attracting plants. Additionally, most hostas bloom in mid- to late summer, so they are an excellent source of nectar leading up to fall migration.

Many species of Penstemon (Penstemon) are known for their nectar-producing flowers that attract a variety of pollinators. Sometimes referred to as bearded tongue, penstemon is a great choice for a container plant to attract hummingbirds. Varieties range in height from 1 to 4 feet, and all thrive in the right size container, as long as they are watered frequently and fertilized each year. Penstemon is hardy in zones 5 to 8, prefers full sun, and blooms throughout spring and summer, making it an excellent source of nectar during and just after spring migration.

Red salvia (Salvia splendens), also known as scarlet sage, combines some of hummingbird’s favorite things: the color red, nectar and tube flowers. So, not surprisingly, it’s very attractive to these zippy little birds. The plant does best in zones 10 and 11 and prefers full sun. The flowers that hummingbirds love so much usually begin to appear in June. The plant will continue to bloom until the first frost, providing hummingbirds with a late-season nectar source. It is also a low-maintenance plant that does very well in containers.

Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), sometimes called coral honeysuckle, has tube-shaped flowers in colors ranging from red to gold that hummingbirds find irresistible. These nectar-producing plants do best in zones 4 through 9 and can thrive in containers, as long as they are adequately watered and supported by trellis or wire to climb. Trumpet honeysuckle’s colorful flowers attract a variety of pollinators and are on full display during spring and summer. However, it can grow over 10 feet when planted in the ground or if you place your container next to a wall or fence, it can also be pruned to maintain the desired height.

A good choice for those hoping to provide late-season nectar for hummers are zinnias (Zinnia elegans). Although they can be grown in zones 2 through 11, they are an option throughout the country. They flower in summer and fall in a variety of colors, including white, red, purple, gold, and orange. Although some zinnia varieties can reach 4 feet in height, most are much shorter. That, along with their fast growth and moderate needs, make them ideal container plants. Zinnias do best in full sun and well-draining soil. In addition to hummingbirds, zinnias are ideal for attracting butterflies.